Auction system

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a system, and method, for auctioning articles, or products of various types, via a public data transmission network, such as the Internet. The bidders participate by submitting a bid via their bidder terminal, to the auction platform, which is integrated into the data transmission system, and permits bi-directional transmission between the terminals and the auction platform. The system functions as a virtual auction house.

The invention relates to an auction system, i.e. to a system and a method for auctioning articles or products via a data transmission network.

The system according to the invention is used for the simultaneous auctioning of a plurality of identical articles or products of varying types in a common auction and in particular for the sale of new products, such as street vehicles, electronics products, household articles, etc.

The object of the invention is to promote the sale of identical products existing in large quantities. This object is achieved by a system according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 6.

Further embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The invention is described in more detail below based on a sample embodiment with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows, in a very simplified schematic representation, a system for auctioning articles via a public network, for example via the Internet;

FIG. 2 and 3 show flowcharts to explain the system according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a chart from the system's perspective.

In FIG. 1, a public data transmission network, for example the Internet, with the capability of bi-directional data transmission is generally designated 1. Various users or bidders are designated 2, and 2.1 designates the user terminals (e.g. personal computers) allocated to the users or bidders for establishing contact via the data transmission network 1 with servers or computers, etc. assigned to said network for the purpose of data transmission, which is for example bi-directional.

In FIG. 1, 3 designates such a server or computer, on which a special auction platform, explained in more detail below, is installed with corresponding auction software and which therefore is designed as a virtual auction house for auctioning products or articles of various types.

The computer 3 comprises, in addition to a central computer unit 4, which is used for example to control and execute the program, an input unit 5 (e.g. keyboard and/or interface) with a monitor 6 for entering data, programs, etc., a plurality of memory areas 7 in particular for entering parameters in connection with the respective auction and each of which is allocated to one user 2 or user terminal 2.1, insofar as the user 2, after accessing the computer 3 and after selection of an auction offer, has registered as a bidder 2 for participation in a particular auction or for auctioning a particular product. The registration takes place for example by entering a unique bidder identification BI identifying the respective user 2 and received by the user 2 from the computer 3 for example on request via the system, for example upon the initial access to said computer 3 or to the virtual auction house stored on this computer.

The respective auction is selected for example from a menu, in which the pending or active auctions are displayed, and in which the articles to be auctioned are described and also pictured. It is assumed that a plurality of bidders 2 will take part in each auction.

The memory area 7 provided for the respective user or bidder 2 for the auction currently selected by the bidder is used for storage or temporary storage of a plurality of data required for executing the auction, including the bidder identification BI, the bidder number BN, the identification of the article AG upon which the selected auction is based, for example in the form of a multi-digit call number and description, the calling price AP, the bidder's own last bid GE, the highest bid GH made by one of the bidders during the current auction and the time TH of the auction, e.g. the beginning and end or the remaining time of the current auction.

In a memory area 8 not accessible to the user or bidder 2, additional data and parameters required for conducting the auction are stored, for example the number Z of articles (lot size) lined up for auctioning in the current auction and the last bids of all bidders 2 participating in the auction, listed in order of their amount, or a derived ranking list RL in which the bidders are listed in order of the amount of their last bid.

FIG. 2 shows, in a flow chart, the procedure for the auction with respect to the communication between a bidder 2 and the computer 3. At the start of participation in the auction, the calling price AP and the last highest bid GH are displayed on the monitor for each bidder 2, in addition to information on the auction article AG. Each bidder 2 is requested to enter his bid GE, which is higher than the calling price AP. It is not necessary, however, that the bidder's own bid GE be higher than the last highest bid GH.

After the first bid has been entered by the respective bidder 2, the computer 3 determines whether the bid is actually the first bid of that bidder 2. If this is the case, this bid is stored in the ranking list RL, and at the same time in the memory area 7 allocated to this bidder 2 as his own bid GE, so that this own bid GE is displayed on the monitor of the bidder 2 together with the calling price AP and the last highest bid GH. Each further bid GE of each bidder 2 is evaluated in the computer 3 to determine whether it is higher than the previous bid GE of the same bidder 2. If this is not the case, then the further bid GE is rejected, which is displayed on the monitor of the respective bidder 2. The previous bid is retained as a valid bid In the ranking list RL and in the memory area 7 allocated to the respective bidder 2.

If the further bid GE is higher than the previous bid GE, then the further bid is stored as the current bid in the ranking list and memory area 7 of the respective bidder 2 and is displayed on his monitor.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart relevant to the allocation of the auctioned articles (acceptance of the bid) by the computer 3 after evaluating the data of the ranking system or of the ranking list RL. In this evaluation, which is conducted after completion of each auction, the individual bidders 2 receive their lot in the order of their last bids or in the order of their position in the ranking list RL, each bidder 2 at the price corresponding to his last bid GE accepted by the system.

Therefore, from the existing number of articles or from the existing lot size Z, the bidder 2 with the highest bid is served first, followed by the remaining bidders 2, in the order of their position in the ranking list RL. If the lot size Z is equal to or greater than the number of bidders 2, then each bidder 2 receives the auctioned article at his last bid GE. If the number of bidders 2 is greater than the lot size Z, then the auctioned article is given only to some of the bidders 2, corresponding to their order in the ranking list RL until the lot size Z has been allotted, here again to each bidder at his last bid GE.

The acceptance of the bid is displayed on the monitor to each bidder 2 or the bidders are notified otherwise, e.g. via e-mail. Each auction is limited in duration. The start and end or the remaining time are displayed to the bidders 2 participating in the auction with the time notice TH. After the auction time has elapsed, no further bids GE are possible.

It is fundamentally possible, however, to conduct the auction so that the start of the auction is specified, but the auction ends after a time period within a remaining time generated by a random generator.

The invention was described above based on an exemplary embodiment. It goes without saying that numerous variations are possible. For example, it is possible to provide several interconnected computers in lieu of the computer 3, in which case the auction platform with the auction program is installed on at least one of these computers. Furthermore, it is possible to combine some of the separate functions described above, for example, to store the respective valid bid GE of each bidder 2 only once, e.g. in the ranking system or in the ranking list RL and not additionally in the memory area 7. The same applies to the last or current highest bid GH.

The system according to the invention also makes it possible to conduct several auctions simultaneously or temporally overlapping. 

1. Auction system for auctioning articles or products of various types, characterized by an auction platform integrated in a data transmission system (1) and formed by at least one computer (3), which (platform) forms a virtual auction house using auction software and is accessible via the data transmission network (1) by users of the bidder terminal (2.1) for bi-direction data transmission, wherein the system is designed for the auctioning of several identical articles or products in a common auction so that (i) the bidders (2) participating in the respective auction are each requested to make a bid (GE) via their bidder terminal (2.1), the bid being at least equal to or greater than a calling price (AP), (ii) each bidder (2), after making a first bid (GE) from his bidder terminal (2.1), has the opportunity to make at least one further bid, (iii) each further bid by each bidder (2) that does not exceed the previous bid (GE) of that bidder is rejected, (iv) the current highest bid (GH) is transmitted to the bidder terminals (2.1) of the bidders (2) and is displayed there, (v) the last bid (GE) of each bidder (2) or a value corresponding to the amount of this bid is stored as a value in a ranking system or a ranking list (RL) in a memory of the auction platform (3), and (vi) after completion of the auction, the at least one computer (3) determines the allocation of the auctioned articles to the bidders (2) or the acceptance of the bids according to the order of values in the ranking system, beginning with the bidder (2) or bid with the highest value.
 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the auction platform (3) or a computer (3) forming said platform is provided with a time control or timer function for defining the beginning and end of the respective auction.
 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the time control contains a timer function with a random generator function, namely for ending the auction after a duration specified by the timer function with a remaining time determined by the random generator function.
 4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that update data from the current auction is transmitted via the data transmission network (1) to the user terminals (2.1), e.g. the current highest bid (GH) from the bidders (2) participating in the auction and/or the bidder's own current bid (GE) accepted by the auction platform.
 5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transmission system is a data transmission network (1), preferably a public data transmission network.
 6. Method for auctioning products via a data transmission network (1), in which one auction platform formed by at least one computer (3) and a plurality of bidder or user terminals (2.1), each allocated to at least one bidder (2) are integrated, characterized in that at the beginning of each auction, a request to make a bid and information containing at least one calling price (AP) are transmitted via the data transmission network (1) to the bidder terminal (2.1) connected with the auction platform via the data transmission network (1), during the auction, information containing at least the respective current highest bid (GH) is transmitted via the data transmission network (1) to the bidder terminal (2.1) connected with the auction platform, each bid of a bidder (2) is evaluated by the auction platform and, if it is not equal to or greater than the calling price (AP) and is not greater than a previous bid (GE) of that bidder, is rejected, the last accepted bid (GE) of each bidder or a value corresponding to the amount of this bid is stored as a value in a ranking system or a ranking list (RL) in a memory of the auction platform (3), and after completion of the auction, the auction platform or its computer (3) determines the allocation of the auctioned articles to the bidders (2), i.e. acknowledges the highest bidder according to the order of values in the ranking system, beginning with the bidder (2) or current last bid with the highest value.
 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the auction platform or the auction software installed there contains a time control with a timer function, which automatically determines the end of the auction and bocks the auction platform for further bids (GE) from the bidders (2).
 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that information containing the remaining time of the auction is transmitted to the bidder terminals (2.1) via the data transmission network (1).
 9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the time control also contains a random generator function, namely for ending the auction after a duration specified by the timer function within a remaining time determined by the random generator function.
 10. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that update data from the current auction is transmitted via the data transmission network (1) to the user terminals (2.1), e.g. the current highest bid (GH) from the bidders (2) participating in the auction and/or the bidder's own current bid (GE) accepted by the auction platform.
 11. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the transmitted information is displayed at the bidder terminal (2.1). 